Noel Doerr

On the morning of September 3, 2017, angels cried tears of joy as Noel Marie Doerr, age 60, of Agar, gracefully returned home surrounded by the love of her friends and family by her side. It was a heavenly celebration as her husband Dennis; parents, Margaret and Terence McGrath; brothers: Francis McGrath, Terry McGrath, Patrick McGrath, Robert McGrath and Tom Denn; sisters: Marge Potter and Marcelline Hunnel; mother and father in-law: Daisy and Edward Doerr; nieces, nephews and friends welcomed her to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gettysburg with Father Jerry Kopel presiding. Burial followed in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Agar. A wake service was held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, September 8, 2017 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Onida with visitation one- hour prior.

Noel Marie McGrath was born on December 25, 1956 to Terrance and Margaret (Hoven) McGrath.  She was the best Christmas present her twelve brothers and sisters had ever received. Her older brother Terry quickly gave her the nickname “Poopsie”, a term of endearment such as sweetheart. She was adored by her siblings, and they were always so proud of the amazing woman she was.

Noel attended St. Anthony’s Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Hoven High School in Hoven, SD. Noel was always a caregiver from a young age. Soon after high school she stayed home and cared for her parents who had failing health. This ultimately led to her to pursue a career in nursing. She graduated with her LPN Diploma from Pierre in 1981 and later in life achieved her Registered Nurse licensure. The love and care she spread to her family and community was unimaginable.

In October of 1982, Noel was united in marriage with the love of her life Dennis Edward Doerr in Gettysburg, SD. They made their home on the Doerr Family Farm east of Agar, SD. On a blizzardy February night of 1984 they welcomed their first beautiful daughter, Brenda Marie Doerr. In January of 1989, the family of three welcomed a fourth, a second beautiful daughter, Christina Margaret Doerr. 

Noel lived her life with a philosophy of a perpetual love and faith. The love she had for her family and friends was extraordinary. She was the first person you would call when you had news of celebration or the first person you would call when you needed a hand to hold in your darkest hour.  Everyone who had the opportunity to meet her was impacted by her beautiful soul, although no one impacted her life more than Arianna Zane Forgey and Dennis Madden Doerr. They gave her the best gifts in life, their utmost adoration and the title of Grandma. 

Having been blessed to have called her ours, daughters: Brenda Doerr (fiancée Sam Torok) of Sturgis, SD and Christina (Jeromey) Zweber of Rapid City, SD; grandchildren: Arianna Zane and Dennis Madden of Sturgis, SD; siblings Matt (Gloria) McGrath of Saskatoon, Canada, Greg (Linda) McGrath of Hoven, SD, Sandy (Ken) Pfiefer of Aurora, NE, Shelia Hoke of Sturgis, SD, Norma (Bill) Lichtenberg of Grafton, NE, Janice Lister of Sturgis, SD, Jo (Tony) Bender “The Other Sister” of Agar, SD; sister-in-law, Sandra McGrath of Faulkton, SD; her devoted nieces, nephews, friends and her late husband’s siblings: Jim (Karen) Doerr of Gettysburg, SD and Madonna (Rich) Perry of Spearfish, SD.